Automatic side control for rolls



ay W, 132.

c. A. DICKHAUT AUTOMATIC SIDE CONTROL FOR ROLLS Filed June 18, 1930 sww 3. Sheets-Sheet I l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

y 17, 1932- c. A. DICKHAUT 1,858,436

AUTOMATIC? SIDE 'OONTROL FOR ROLLS Filed June 18,1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 -INVENTOR. m d. W BY M, ammo ATTORNEYS.

May 17, 1932. c. A. DICKHAUT AUTOMATIC SIDE CONTROL FOR ROLLS Filed June 18, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIIIIIIIIIIIA G 0 my Aw INVENTOR. W a. M,-&vrm&

A Ti GRNEYS.

Patented May 1 7, 1932 m When the CHARLES A. DICKHAUT, OF NEW DRON CORPORATION, OF NEW AUTOMATIC SIDE CONTROL F03 BULLS I Application filed June 18,

This invention relates to a. mechanism adopted to be used in the manufacture and handling of sheet materials such as paper, cloth and the like which are manufactured in long strips or webs.

In the manufacture of materials of this type, some steps in'the manufacturing operation require winding the sheet or web material into rolls in order to facilitate handling.

web is fed from the roll to a subsequent operation, it is desirable, and in fact necessary, for it to follow a predetermined longitudinally of its axis when the true edge of the web path. This is particularly true when the web is fed to a cuttingmachine or to some other operation which requires rewinding the web since in the latter instance it is desirable that the edges of adjacent turns coincide. As irregularities often occurin the edges of the strip, due to uneven shrinking or stretching,

' steps must be taken to guide properly the path of the traveling sheet from one operation to the next.

An object of this invention is to compem sate for lateral deviation of the web in pass ing from one operation to another.

Another object of the invention is to compensete for lateral deviation during the travel of the web by controlling its path in accordonce with the contour of its edges.

Still another-object of the invention is to determine the path of a traveling sheet having an associated rollby'adjusting the roll in accordance with the contour of the sheet edg A further object of the invention is to prevent the operation of the controlling means has been mutiwhen a portion has lated. as for instance,

during manufacture been inadvertently torn or handling. I V

Another object of the invention is to reduce the cost of manufacturing web materials of this type by nrovidin'g for the adjustment of. a plurality of rolls from a common actuating element. p

Still another-object of the invention is to reduce the strain on some of the elements of the apparatus employed, thereby reducing replacement costs.

A feature of the invention resides in e by the position of the 1930. serial in. career.

chamber having a. flexible diaphragm to which a. lever arm or other equivalent device is afixcdf The lever arm or its equivalent is adapted to displace the roll upon which the sheet is wound longitudinally of its axis, which displacement is determined by the pressure in the chamber heretofore mentioned. This pressure is in turn determined edge of the traveling web. v

Another feature of the invention resides in providing a pair of chambers for each roll the pressure in each of which is controlled by a difierent edge of the web. The diaphragms of each pair are connected together and both function simultaneously totransmit longitudinal displacement to the roll. This arrangement permits the pressure on the diaphragms to be balanced under normal conditions, thereby reducing the strain and considerably increasing the life of the din. phregm.

Another feature of the in means whereby the control chambers of a plurality of rolls may be connected to e common means for maintaining a normal chamber pressure while at the some time changes of pressure in one chamber are isolated and prevented from affecting the others;

.A better understanding of the invention may be had by reading the following description together with theaccompa-nying drawings wherein, Y

I Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a plurality of rolls simultaneously controlled.

ig; 2 is a diagrammatic view at right angles of Fig. 1 showing a single control Referring now to Fig. 1, a frame element 1 is shown supporting a plurality of rolls 2 of sheet material such as paper web or the like. Frorneach of the rolls the web 3 is fed over. a guide roller 4 between another pair of guide rollers 5 and -6'to a cutting machine or machine for performing some other opera? tion, which machines are not shown. Asmeuinvention residesv and 6 are enlarged views showing structural details of the invention.

nnuuswxox, NEW .rnnsnr, Assmiton. TO JOHN WAL- neunswrcn, NEW annsnr, A. oonrom-rron or new ill?) such irregularities.

tioned heretofore, it is quite necessary that the web material be fedto each subsequent operation in a perfectly straight line, but due to irregularities in the edges of the strips from uneven shrinking or stretching, this desirable result may not always be accomplished unless some means are provided to compensate for In accordance with this invention, a finger element 7 is suitably positioned to contact with the travelin sheet so that its position is determined by t finger element 7 actuates a; valve element 8 of a type similar to that disclosed in my Patent No. 1,634,984 issued July 5, 1927. Briefly, the valve shown in this patent comprises an apert'ure opening to the atmosphere an amount determined by the position of the contact fin er 7,

onnecting the valve 8 and a pressure chamber 9 is a tube or duct 10 by means of which the ressure of fluid in the chamber is controlled 1n accordance with the opening of the valve 8. The pressure in the chamber 9 is preferably, although not necessarily, below atmospherlc and is maintained at a substantially constant value bya vacuum pump 11. This vacuum pump is connected to the chamber through the duct 12, and the T connections 13 and 14. An enlarged view of the T connection 14 is shown in Fig. 5. The tube 15 leadin ,from the main duct 12 is throttled down so t at only a small passageway 16 communicates with that portion of the. tube leading to the diaphragm chamber and the valve 8. The purpose 0 this will be evident hereinafter.

The vacuum chamber 9 is fixedly mounted on the frame 1. Its face is closed by a flexible diaphragm 18, the movement of which provides the adjustment of the roll 2. For this purpose, a'rod' 19 is pivoted at 20 to a lever 21wh'ich in'turn is pivoted at 22 to a rigid arm the framework 1 er end of the arm r 24 from which and engage in a 23, permanently secured to or the chamber 9. The up 21 terminates in a U mem pins 25 project inwardl groove 26 in the collar 2 The collar 27 is xedly secured to the shaft 29 u n which the roll 2 is mounted. The shaft 29 is free to slide in the bearin 30. A tension spring 31 suitat 32 opposes the force acting ably anchore on the diaphra ,18 and normally exerts a force which hol the diaphragm undistended when the sheet is traveling in its proper path.

In order to prevent excess wear on the diaphragm 18 when the vacuum in the chamber 17 is such that the diaphragm is distended to its maximum position inwardly, a safety valve is provided as shown in Fig. 4. This valve comprises a spindle 33 and a valve 34 normally held in closed position by the spring 35 butting against the outer side of the valve 34 and theinner face of the cap 36. A hole 37 in the cap 36 communicates with the cheme edge of the latter. The p In operation the vacuum pump 11 tends to maintain a suitable constant vacuum in all of the vacuum chambers 9. This pressure is so regulated that the diaphragm is in its mid or undistended osition when the valves 8 are half 0 n. The finger 7 is held in contact with t e edge of the web 3 by a spring, not shown but which is described in my patent referred to above. If there is an irregularit in the edge of the paper, it displaces the nger7 opening or closing the valve8, asthe case may be, dependin upon the direction in which the finger is 'splaced. If the valve is opened, the vacuum in the chamber .9 will be lowered, thereby permitting the diaphragm 18 to distend outwardly. T e spring 31 will thereupon rotate the lever 21 slightl displacing the unwinding roll 2,to the rig t (Fig. 2) to compensate for the unevenness of the sheet edge. If, on the contrary, the finr 7 moves to close the valve 8, the vacuum in the chamber9 will be increased, thus drawing the dia hragm 18 inwardly against the tension of t e spring 31, whereupon the roll 2 is displaced to the left (Fig. 2) and the irregularity of the edge of the strlp in this direction likewise compensated. I

In order to prevent the o eration of one of the plurality of valves 8 om affecting all of the-vacuum chambers 9, the duct 15 eading from the passage 10 between the vacuum chamber and the valve is throttled down as shown in Fig. 5. This rmits one of the valves 8 to be opened a ectin immediately its associated vacuum cham r and diapiiragm although practically no effect will evidenced in the common duct 12 leading from the vacuum pump 11 to all of the vacuum chambers.

. Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 3. Herein a pair of balanced 1 vacuum chambers 50 and 51 are used, which eliminate the use of a spring and also tend to prolong the life, of the dlaphragms. The

vacuum chambers 50 and 51 are identical with those already described and communicate with a vacuum creating means through tubes 52 and 53 respectively. A single rod 54 is connected atv its extremities to the diaphragms of the chambers 50 and 51. At the centre of the rod 54 is pivoted a lever arm 55,

' which in turn is pivoted at 56.to the stationary cross member 57. .As Fig. 2the upper end of the lever is U-shaped and has projecting pins which engage in the groove 58 of the collar 59. The shaft 60 and the bearing-61 correspond respectively to the shaft 29 and the bearing 30 of the embodiment previously described. The vacuum chamber '50 is connected through a duct 62 to a valve and its associated finger, contacting one edge of the traveling sheet while the duct 63 connects the other chamber 51 to a valve and associated finger, contacting the opposite edge of the traveling sheet.

The operation of this embodiment of the invention will beapparent from the following discussion. It the web unwinding from the roll 2 is displaced in one direction as, for instance, to the left in Fig. 3 the finger contacting the right edge of the sheet will tend to close the valve associated therewith, whereas the finger contacting the left edge of the sheet will cause its associated valve to open. This will increase the vacuum in the chamber 56 and decrease the vacuum in the chamber 51. Rod 54 will be displaced longitudinally to the left with a corresponding displacement of the. roll 2 to the right, thereby compensating for the lateral displacement of the web. in this way. the web is maintained in a straight path. it is obvious that when this embodiment is used, the force necessary to displace the roll longitudinally is divided equally between the diaphragm chambers 50 and 51, thereby requiring only half or the force ordinarily exerted by such a chamber. This materially decreases the strain on the diaphragrns associated with these chambers and greatly prolongs their life.

lfu Fig. 6 another type of contact finger is shown. which may he used if desired in place of the one shown in Fig. 1.. An arrangement of this type is used in order to prevent portions which have been inadvertently torn from the traveling sheet from actuating the control mechanism. fhis type compr ses a pair of fingers and 71 which are adapted to contact with the edge of the traveling strip. These fingers are rigidly secured to the cross arm l2, the latter in turn being rigidly secured to the rod 7 3. which is an element of the control valve described in my Patent No. 1,634.984 above referred to. Due

to the fixed relation oi the fingers l0 and 71 and the rod '73. it s obvious that the fingers 4'0 and 71 must function as a unit to operate the valve 8. These fingers are. positioned sufficientlv far apart so that inadvertent mutilations of the edge of the traveling sheet in contact with one finger will not extend to the other: thus when one finger is adjacent a mutilated portion, the other finger will contact with the true edge of'the strip. In such a case. the latter is the only finger controlling the valve 8 in consequence of which the mutilated edge has no eil'ect in adjusting the 5 position of the roll.

In describing this invention, the several embodiments have been discussed simply by way of example and it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Thus, although the longitudinal positions of the rolls described are adjusted the edgeof the strip as it unwinds from the roll, it is quite obvious that a similar control may be employed n combination with a travcling sheet winding up on a roll. Furthermore, the control is capable of use with a plurality of guide rollers between which the sheet may be caused to travel. in fact, the invention is considered suiliciently broad to cover any arrangement for longitudinally ad justing a roll with which a traveling sheet is associated in any manner whatsoever, and is to be limited only by the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device for adjustng the paths of a plurality of traveling sheets,'each having an associated roll. the combination with said rolls of individual flu d operated means for adjusting the position of said rolls, and means common to said fluid operated means for mainta'nina' the pressure thereof.

2. in a device for adiustingthepath of a plurality of traveling sheets. each having an associated roll. the combination therewith of individual vacuum means for adjusting the position ot said rolls. and an element common to a plurality of said vacuum means for crest ng the vacuum therein.

3. lo a device for adiusting the paths of a plurality of traveling sheets. each having an associated roll, the combination therewith of individual vacuum means for adjusting the position of said rolls. an element common to said vacuum means for creating the vacuum therein. and means assocated with each of said vacuum means for substantially confininc variations in vacuum pressure to the vacuum means with which it is associated.

.4. In a device tor adiusting the oaths of a plura itv of traveling sheets. each having an associated roll. the combination therewith oi? individual vacuum means for adiusting the position of said rolls. an element common to said vacuum means for creating said several vacuums. and throttlinsr means associated with each of said several vacuum means for substantially preventing variat ons'oi vacuum'therein from afiiectingsaid other vacuum means. 7 i I 5. In a device for adiusting-tlie paths of a plurality of traveling sheets, each having an associated roll, the combination therewith of individual vacuum means functioning to adjust said rolls longitudinally of their axes in accordance with the edge of their associated traveling sheets, common means for creating said several vacuums and means inill ' from aflectin sed between each of said vacuum means an said common means for substantially preventing variations in pressure of any one" an of the others. g 6. In combination, a roll of sheet material mounted for rotation about its longitudinal tro ling the ressure in said chamber in accordance wit the position of the unwound portion of said sheet, and means actuated by said dia hragm for adjusting said roll longitudina y of its axis.

8. In combination, a roll of sheet material mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a vacuum chamber having a diaphragm associated therewith responsive to variations of pressure in said chamber, a valve associated with said chamber and communicating directly with the atmosphere, means controlling the openin of said valve in accordance with the position of the unwound portion of said sheet, means actuated by said diaphragm for adjustingsaid roll longitudinally of its axis, and means for opposing the action of said diaphragm. f v

9. In combination, a roll of sheet material mounted for rotation about its lon tudinal axis, a plurality of vacuum cham rs, diaphragms associated with each of said chambers and responsive to variations of pressure therein, a valve associated with each of said chambers communicating directly with the atmosphere and means actuated by both of said dia hragms for adjusting said roll longitudina y of its axis.

10. In combination, a roll of sheet material mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a pair of vacuum chambers, each having a flexible diaphragm normally balanced against the other and means for adjusting said roll along '.1ts longitudinal axis an amount determined b the unbalanced forces acting on said diap agms.

11. In combination, a roll of sheet material mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a pair of vacuum chambers, each having a flexible dia hragm normally balanced against the ot er and responsive to variations of pressure in its respective chamber, means for controlling the pressure in said vacuum chambers in accordance with the position of the unwound portion of said roll, and means for adjusting said roll along its longitudinal axis in accordance with the diflerence of pressure in said chambers.

12. In combination, a roll of sheet material mounted for rotation. about'its longitudinal axis, a pair of vacuum chambers, each having a diaphragm responsive to variations of pressure in its respective chamber, means connecting said diaphragms, means for controlling the pressure in said vacuum pressure in said chamber is controlled in accordance with the contour of the edge of said sheet, said contacting means comprising a plurality of spaced fingers.

14. In combination, a roll of sheet material mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis, means for adjusting said roll longitudinally of its axis in accordance with the edge of an unwound portion of said roll,

and means for preventing the operation of said adjusting means when a mutilated portion of the sheet is in contact therewith.

15. In a device for adjusting the path of a plurality of sheets each having an assoe ciated roll, the combination therewith of individual fluid control means for adjusting the position of said rolls, common means for creating a suction within said fluid control means, a valve associated with each of said control means ermitting'variations in pressure therewithln, a duct connecting said control means with its associated valve, and an aperture of substantially smaller area than said duct between said individual control means and the suction creating means.

16. A plurality of pressure chambers, common means for maintaining a substantially uniform pressure in said chambers, means individually responsive to the pressure in each of said chambers, and means for substantially isolating pressure variations in each of said chambers from the remainder thereof.

17. A plurality of pressure chambers, common means for maintaining a substantially umform pressure 1n said chambers, means individually responsive to the pressure in each of said chambers, and throttling means for substantially isolating pressure variations in each of said chambers from the remainder thereof.

18. Ina device for adjusting the ath of a traveling sheet, the combination t erewith of a roller with which the sheet is associated, a pressure chamber having a flexible diaphragm, means for imparting 'the movement of said diaphragm to adjust said roll longitudinally of its axis, and means actuated in accordance with the edge of said traveling sheet for adjusting the on said dia- 19. In a device for adjusting the path of a traveling sheet the combination therewith 6 of a'roll with .w 'ch the sheet is associated, (vacuum means for adjusting said roll longitudinally of its axis, andmeans for reliev-- mg the vacuum within said vacuum means at the limit of adjustment of said roll. 1 20. In a device for adjusting the path ofa traveling sheet the combination therewith of a roll with w ich the sheet is associated, vacuum means for adjusting said roll longitudinally of its axis, and a release valve in said vacuum means functioning at the limit of adjustment of said roll. In testimon whereof I aflix mysignature.

LES A. DICKHAUT. 

